Latest News and Comment from Education

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Nite Cap 11-5-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2


James Baldwin said it best: 

"For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."


A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAP


TODAY

Educational reform movement misguided, argues Diane Ravitch - The Daily Princetonian
Educational reform movement misguided, argues Diane Ravitch - The Daily Princetonian: Educational reform movement misguided, argues Diane RavitchBY SHEILA SISIMIT   •   CONTRIBUTOR   •   NOVEMBER 4, 2013The movement to reform the American education system is realizing the opposite of what it intends to do, Diane Ravitch, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Education from 1991-93 and New York Univer
Advocates pile on criticisms of draft funding regulations EdSource Today
EdSource Today: Advocates pile on criticisms of draft funding regulationsNovember 5th, 2013 | Add a Comment | By John FensterwaldOn the eve of a critical public hearing, key supporters of the Local Control Funding Formula are urging the State Board of Education to substantially change draft regulations instructing school districts on how to carry out critical parts of the new law. The State Board
Teachers don't show after charter fails to pay them | The Columbus Dispatch
Teachers don't show after charter fails to pay them | The Columbus Dispatch: Teachers don't show after charter fails to pay themA new Columbus charter school failed to pay its employees last week, leading some educators to walk off the job, its founder said yesterday.The 40-student Barnett Academy of Columbus-East, at 4300 Kimberly Parkway N. on the East Side, is trying to work out a plan to pay i
SPECIAL Mid Day Banana Break 11-5-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2 #edreform
Big Education Ape - Mid Day Banana BreakED Pulse Poll Results: Which Type of Parent Support for the CommonED Pulse Poll Results: Which Type of Parent Support for the Common Core Would Be Most Useful? November 5, 2013 by Kit Harris, ASCD Research ASCD continually seeks to provide solutions to the challenges that face educators of all levels. Recently the ASCD SmartBrief ED Pulse poll sought to deve
California Teachers of the Year for 2014 - Year 2013
California Teachers of the Year for 2014 - Year 2013 (CA Dept of Education): State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Names California Teachers of the YearSacramento County educator nominated for National Teacher of the Year honorSACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today named five outstanding educators as the 2014 California Teachers of the Year. He further named one of t
11/5/2013 – Behind Chris Christie’s Rage At Teachers
11/5/2013 – Behind Chris Christie’s Rage At Teachers: 11/5/2013 – Behind Chris Christie’s Rage At TeachersNovember 5, 2013 SubscribeTHIS WEEK: Trouble Starting At Age 8 … The Excellence Gap … $1 Billion For Schools … Common Core Implementation Worse Than Obamacare … Will Bridgeport Reject Rhee RevolutionTOP STORYWhat Chris Christie Is Hiding Behind His Rage At School TeachersBy Jeff Bryant“New Jer
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago under Rahm is becoming a second-rate city
Mike Klonsky's SmallTalk Blog: Chicago under Rahm is becoming a second-rate city: Chicago under Rahm is becoming a second-rate cityThe loss of manufacturing combined with corrupt mis-leadership in Springfield and City Hall, is rapidly turning Chicago into a second-rate, parasitic city that produces little but where public space is reduced and insatiable corporate interests suck up more than their
Report: Most third-graders behind in cognitive development | HechingerEd Blog
Report: Most third-graders behind in cognitive development | HechingerEd Blog: Report: Most third-graders behind in cognitive developmentNearly 65 percent of third-graders lack the cognitive skills and knowledge necessary to succeed academically, according to the results of “The First Eight Years,” a report released Monday.The Annie E. Casey foundation, a non-profit child advocacy organization, an
Weingarten: Common Core implementation 'far worse' than Obamacare rollout | Capital New York
Weingarten: Common Core implementation 'far worse' than Obamacare rollout | Capital New York: Weingarten: Common Core implementation 'far worse' than Obamacare rolloutRandi Weingarten. Center for American Progress.BY JESSICA BAKEMAN11:15 am Nov. 4, 2013WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten blasted New York's and other states' implementation of the rigorous Common Co
11-5-13 Ed Notes Online
Ed Notes Online: Next MORE Meeting: What do you think about the Common Core?Some of you might think why does MORE need to decide on a position on the common core? It should be a no-brainer. Well it is not. There are many progressives out there who are not clear about the issue, especially with the propaganda mill from the UFT/AFT, major corporations, the entire educational top level leadership etc
11-5-13 THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG - Maintaining Resilience in Education
Maintaining Resilience in Education — Whole Child Education: THE WHOLE CHILD BLOGMaintaining Resilience in EducationNovember 5, 2013 by Dianna MinorResilience in education is best developed in the early grades when students' interests are keen and easiest to develop. This is often the time when a teacher can best motivate a child to believe she can do anything if she tries and puts forth her best
Weingarten: Common Core Rollout Worse Than Obamacare Rollout | Truth in American Education
Weingarten: Common Core Rollout Worse Than Obamacare Rollout | Truth in American Education: Weingarten: Common Core Rollout Worse Than Obamacare RolloutFiled in Common Core State Standards by Shane Vander Hart on November 5, 2013 • 0 Comments485American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten criticized the implementation of the Common Core State Standards on Monday as reported by Capita
“WHAT OUR SCHOOLS CAN’T DO – BUT PARENTS CAN” | Teachers Fight Back
“WHAT OUR SCHOOLS CAN’T DO – BUT PARENTS CAN” | Teachers Fight Back: “WHAT OUR SCHOOLS CAN’T DO – BUT PARENTS CAN”leave a comment »The above title is taken from a commentary that appeared in today’s Chicago Tribune.  The commentary was written by Phillip Jackson, the founder and executive director of The Black Star Project. Here are some excerpts from the commentary:“Chicago schools by themselves
Cali Education Headlines Tuesday, November 5, 2013
FCMAT » Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team: Bee BitesFPPC: Seven Sacramento area school officials took hidden giftsEducation HeadlinesTuesday, November 5, 2013Monterey High academy seeks to become charter schoolComing out to the beach, perhaps more often, is the type of experience MAOS students could get more of if the academy had more flexibility with scheduling and programming. It's
The Education Reform Conversation We Need is Not the One We Keep Having | Alternet
The Education Reform Conversation We Need is Not the One We Keep Having | Alternet: The Education Reform Conversation We Need is Not the One We Keep HavingWhy do education policymakers despise talking about equity?Photo Credit: US Department of Education via Wikimedia CommonsNovember 4, 2013  |   This past week, two videos captured just about everything you need to know about the status of the mov
NEA - American Education Week—November 18-22, 2013
NEA - American Education Week: Raise Your Hand for Student Success250American Education Week—November 18-22, 2013—presents all Americans with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate public education and honor individuals who are making a difference in ensuring that every child receives a quality education. The weeklong celebration features a special observance each day of the week. They include:Monda
Test the World | EduShyster
Test the World | EduShyster: Test the World The coming global testing boondoggleIt’s a stark numerical conundrum: there are only so many standardized tests that boys and girls in the United States can be made to take. If only there were children in some other part of the world who could benefit from a diet rich in assessments and robust in metric… Great news, reader! The hundred of millions of chi
11-5-13 Schools Matter
Schools Matter: New York's 7 Million Dollar Teacher Observation CoachesWhen Tennessee became the first state to implement a teacher evaluation system based on a Rube Goldberg designed observation rubric and invalid, unreliable, and unfair testing methodology, the State became a laughingstock.  Now that same crackpot scheme has come to New York and most likely to a school near you, if your state or
11-5-13 Wait What?
Wait What?: Another day at Capital Prep Magnet – And Principal Steve Perry is AWOL – againNo, he isn’t MIA… He is actually on route to Prairie View A & M University just northwest of Houston. EVENT: Prairie View A&M University University’s MSC Auditorium 6:30 speech, reception to follow And while Steve Perry is out gallivanting, courtesy of the taxpayers of Hartford and Connecticut, he is
11-5-13 Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.
Fred Klonsky | Daily posts from a retired public school teacher who is just looking at the data.: Illinois’ CMS: “Can’t manage s**t.”Here’s the latest information from Central Management Services regarding retiree health insurance: Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) The enrollment period for the Medicare Advantage plans has been set for November 12 through December 13, 2013. The effective da
Morning Wink 11-5-13 AM Posts #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
BIG EDUCATION APE - MORNING WINK  AM POSTSTODAYLISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for allDiane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Douglas County: Is This the Future of Public Education?Today, voters in Douglas County, Colorado, will decide the future of public education for the children of their county. In response to
LISTEN TO DIANE RAVITCH 11-5-13 Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all
Diane Ravitch's blog | A site to discuss better education for all: Douglas County: Is This the Future of Public Education?Today, voters in Douglas County, Colorado, will decide the future of public education for the children of their county. In response to an earlier post about the election battle for control of the schools in Douglas County, where the school board is eager to privatize the school
11-5-13 Seattle Schools Community Forum
Seattle Schools Community Forum: Tuesday Open ThreadFrom Publicola:Ballot returns for tomorrow's off-year mayoral election are coming in lower than expected, according to King County Elections spokeswoman Kim van Eckstrom, who estimates that "about 250,000 ballots have been returned" as of this morning (that's about 40,000 more than you'll currently see on King County's official election
Failure is in the Eye of the Political Hack: Thoughts & Data on NJ Failure Factories & NOLA Miracles | School Finance 101
Failure is in the Eye of the Political Hack: Thoughts & Data on NJ Failure Factories & NOLA Miracles | School Finance 101: Failure is in the Eye of the Political Hack: Thoughts & Data on NJ Failure Factories & NOLA MiraclesPosted on November 5, 20130       1 VotesWe all know… by the persistent spit-spouting in your face blather of reformy-land that some common truths exist in educa
Louisiana Educator: White Gets an Earful
Louisiana Educator: White Gets an Earful: White Gets an EarfulI attended a 4 hour hearing on the Common Core State Standards Monday at the Capitol. (See also the Advocate article on this) For this hearing, members of the public and teachers were not allowed to testify, but I believe that most of the many legislators in attendance who had actually been hearing complaints from parents and teachers d
11-5-13 Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL
Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day… | …For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL: This Week’s “Round-Up” Of Good Posts & Articles On Education PolicyHere are some recent posts and articles on education policy issues that are worth reading: The WOW! factor of CCSS is by Alice Mercer. I’m adding it to The Best Articles Sharing Concerns About Common Core Standards. State Board executive director optimis
11-5-13 Perdido Street School
Perdido Street School: Vote De Blasio, James, No To GamblingLet's go back to last April as Anthony Weiner was getting ready to enter the race for City Hall.Christine Quinn was firmly in front of all other candidates, the Anybody But Quinn group had just launched their advertising campaign against Quinn but the ads had yet to do real damage to her, Thompson and de Blasio were well behind Quinn in l
11-5-13 @ The Chalk Face
@ THE CHALK FACE: Are Common Core and Testing Debates “Two Different Matters”?Are Common Core and Testing Debates \”Two Different Matters\”?. via Are Common Core and Testing Debates “Two Different Matters”?.1 by plthomasedd / 18min mark as read  //  saveIf I were a student, I would ask my…If I were a student in a high poverty public school, I would pose the following questions to my teachers, guid
Are Common Core and Testing Debates “Two Different Matters”? | the becoming radical
Are Common Core and Testing Debates “Two Different Matters”? | the becoming radical: ARE COMMON CORE AND TESTING DEBATES “TWO DIFFERENT MATTERS”?A comment posted on my blog about union support for Common Core (CC)—which parallels my blog post about Secretary Duncan and the Obama administration’s support for CC—represents a typical response coming from standards advocates in the CC debate: “You can
Why Are American Schools Still Segregated? - Eleanor Barkhorn - The Atlantic
Why Are American Schools Still Segregated? - Eleanor Barkhorn - The Atlantic: Why Are American Schools Still Segregated?A new study offers two answers: White people are making up a smaller percentage of the population than they used to, and different races are living in different school districtsAlabama state troopers turn away a bus with 13 black students inside as they tried to attend Tuskegee H
A Serious Flaw in Common Core | toteachornototeach
A Serious Flaw in Common Core | toteachornototeach: A Serious Flaw in Common Coreby Alan SingerThere is a serious flaw in the national Common Core English/Language Arts reading standards and it is the result of the ideological point of view about literacy and learning of those who developed it. I am not sure if it was done intentionally or if they are actually unaware of it. The flaw is uncertaint
11-5-13 The Answer Sheet
The Answer Sheet: Are private schools better than public schools? New book says ‘no’BY VALERIE STRAUSSNovember 5 at 5:00 amIt is often assumed that private schools do a better job educating children than public schools, but a new book, “The Public School Advantage,” which is being published this week, shows this isn’t the case. Here’s a piece the authors, Christopher Lubienski, a professor in the
H.R.3153: Student Disciplinary Fairness Act of 2013 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress
H.R.3153: Student Disciplinary Fairness Act of 2013 - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress: H.R.3153 - Student Disciplinary Fairness Act of 2013To amend the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 to establish the Office of School Discipline Policy, and for other purposes. view all titles (2)OverviewActions & VotesNews (0) & Blogs (0)Comments (0)Bill’s ViewsToday:4Past Seven Days:6
NYC Educator: The Trials and Tribulations of Meryl Tisch
NYC Educator: The Trials and Tribulations of Meryl Tisch: The Trials and Tribulations of Meryl TischNot only is Meryl Tisch chancellor of the NY State Board of Regents, she's also chairwoman of the the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. Because really, controlling the education of millions of NY State children is kind of a part-time gig. When you're as rich as Meryl Tisch, you need time to pl
Kindergarten Teachers’ Effects on Five Year-Olds’ Futures | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice
Kindergarten Teachers’ Effects on Five Year-Olds’ Futures | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice: Kindergarten Teachers’ Effects on Five Year-Olds’ FuturesI never went to preschool. I also missed being in kindergarten when I went to a Pittsburgh (PA) elementary school in the early 1940s. It was my loss.Why a loss? Because there is much evidence–both quantitative and qualitative–that
Middle school science standards divide teachers EdSource Today
EdSource Today: Middle school science standards divide teachersNovember 4th, 2013 | 1 Comment | By Kathryn Baron1Students in Emily Williams’ 7th grade science class at South Pasadena Middle School display drawings of what their children might look like as part of a genetics project. Credit: South Pasadena Middle SchoolThe State Board of Education will grapple with physical and metaphysical princip
California State Senator Ron Calderon Should Resign | California Progress Report
California State Senator Ron Calderon Should Resign | California Progress Report: California State Senator Ron Calderon Should ResignPosted on 05 November 2013Printer-friendly versionSend by emailBy Dean PrestonTenants TogetherAssemblymember Christina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) deserves credit for being the first state legislator to call on Senator Ron Calderon (D – Montebello) to resignfollowing the
4LAKids - SEPARATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS FROM THEIR CLASSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR UPSETS PARENTS, TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATORS
4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: SEPARATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS FROM THEIR CLASSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR UPSETS PARENTS, TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATORS: SEPARATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS FROM THEIR CLASSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCHOOL YEAR UPSETS PARENTS, TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATORSTaking parents out of the equation: Principals  are "subject to disciplina
With A Brooklyn Accent: Melissa Tomlinson's "Rosa Parks" Moment
With A Brooklyn Accent: Melissa Tomlinson's "Rosa Parks" Moment: Melissa Tomlinson's "Rosa Parks" MomentThis is an amazing moment in the history of Public Education discourse. Our own Melissa Tomlinson, a long time public school teacher from New Jersey known to all BATS as "Love Light" has engineered a media breakthrough of unimaginable proportions. Not only has her s
NEW Format **SI&A Cabinet Report** :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet
SI&;A Cabinet Report :: The Essential Resource for Superintendents and the Cabinet: Schools invited to weigh in on Obama’s ‘Promise Zones’ priority(D.C.)  The U.S. Department of Education is seeking stakeholder comment on a proposed system aimed at focusing financial resources on 20 “Promise Zones,” high-poverty communities throughout the country in which the federal agencies will partner and

YESTERDAY

Special Late Nite Cap EXTRA 11-4-13 #EDCHAT #P2 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk
Nite Cap EXTRAEXTRA EXTRA EXTRA EXTRAHappy Birthday CTAHappy Birthday CTAThe WOW! factor of CCSSOne of my students this year has a propensity to use the sarcastic “WOW,” when they get news they don’t like (like, “You need to re-do this work”). This is not meant as a complaint about a student, after all they are twelve years old, and I did volunteer to teach this sarcasm-rich age cohort. I’m notici
Special Late Nite Cap UPDATE 11-4-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
Nite Cap UPDATEUPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATECORPORATE ED REFORMPortland Public Schools parents file complaint, push for more high school instructional hoursA coalition of parents wants the state to force Portland Public Schools to increase high school instructional time and has filed a complaint alleging the district fails to meet minimum requirements for class hours.by Nicole Dungca | n... / 29min 
Michelle Rhee revolution faces massive threat — and new accusations - Salon.com
Michelle Rhee revolution faces massive threat — and new accusations - Salon.com: Michelle Rhee revolution faces massive threat — and new accusationsIn Bridgeport, a quiet bipartisan scheme to protect ed reformers' favorite school chief is suspected by criticsBY JOSH EIDELSONEducation reform lightning rod Paul Vallas – who courted controversy helming school districts in Philadelphia, New Orleans an
FPPC: Seven Sacramento area school officials took hidden gifts - Education - The Sacramento Bee
FPPC: Seven Sacramento area school officials took hidden gifts - Education - The Sacramento Bee: FPPC: Seven Sacramento area school officials took hidden giftsBy Diana Lambert, Loretta Kalb and Phillip Reesedlambert@sacbee.comPublished: Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 - 3:14 pmBee BitesSeven Sacramento area school officials and a former top Sacramento County official were named today in a statewide investiga
Nite Cap 11-4-13 #BATsACT #RealEdTalk #EDCHAT #P2
James Baldwin said it best: "For these are all our children, and we will profit by or pay for whatever they become."A BIG EDUCATION APE NITE CAPTODAYShifting The Mission Of Public Education – redqueeninlaShifting The Mission Of Public Education – redqueeninla: Shifting The Mission Of Public EducationWritten by redqueeninla in LAUSD I love performance art.  Long ago I had the kick-ass opp